A Marriage that Pleases God, Part 1

So we make it our goal to please him, whether at home or in the body. 2 Corinthians 5:9

The goal of the life of a Christ-follower is to please the Lord in whatever we do. We can and should apply this as foundational to the life of discipleship. But consider widening its scope to include your marriage–to have the goal of pleasing God with your marriage. How can a marriage please God?

One way is to apply the ‘one another’ passages of scripture to your marriage relationship. These passages are written in the context of relationships in the body of Christ, showing how we are to serve and care for one another. But these same verses can also be used to strengthen marriages. Here are just a few:

“Honor one another above yourself.” (Romans 12:10) Honor means choosing to place high value, worth and importance on another person, by viewing him or her as a priceless gift. It would be putting your spouse’s needs above your own, and doing it willingly with the love of God. It can be demonstrated in little acts of love, like bringing him coffee after a long day so he can ‘detox’ from the stressors of work. A husband can prepare a relaxing bath for his wife who has also had a long day.

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) In joining with your spouse to carry their burden, you lighten the load. The end result is you work as a team, with greater understanding of each other. Ask your husband how you can help him and also how you can pray for him. By asking you show interest in his life and connect your heart more deeply to his. By helping each other out with some daily tasks, the jobs get done quicker, allowing more time to be together.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12) Since marriage is a relationship of two sinners, extending forgiveness to each other is essential! It is critical to ask for forgiveness and also to give forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, can you be the first to extend grace and forgiveness?

Applying the ‘one another’ passages to marriage is a decision to love. Here is the choice—are you going to respond with love in a way that pleases God, or react to the emotions of the moment? By making it our goal to please God in our marriages, we will show the world that marriage can have a higher purpose. The world watches to see the difference the love of God can make in our relationships.